//------------------------------// // Home // Story: Oneirophobia // by Valorousspectre //------------------------------// Talisman was awoken by an insistent prodding at his ribs. With a murmured complaint he opened one eye to the unimpressed look of Nurse Redheart. He turned his head to face her and yawned before offering her a goofy sort of lopsided smile. “Oh… Morning Nurse… I didn’t know you’d be here so early.” Her left brow raised, still unimpressed. “Mister Talisman, it’s almost three in the afternoon. I had to take care of several clients in much more critical conditions before I came here. I had expected you both to be awake. I have been trying to rouse you for the better part of an hour.” He stared blankly at her, uncomprehending. She looked back at him. This went on for several minutes before a sheepish, slightly guilty smile replaced his confused look. “Um… sorry? We stayed up fairly late last night.” An amused look swept over Redheart’s face and he flushed heavily. “Nothing happened! We spoke and stuff is all! We’re just friends! Not even that, colleagues, no, more sort of acquaintances.” A soft whuff of laughter escaped the nurse and she nodded to Twilight. “Was she alright when she woke up?” He nodded quietly. “Yes, she seemed alright. I didn’t let her use magic, just in case of backlash being a possible after effect.” “Well, at least you did something right then.” He frowned at her momentarily until he realised she was smiling at him and he chuckled. “Yeah well. I’m not sure if she’ll tell you, but she was having some sort of a nightmare when she was asleep. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but still.” Another raised brow before she nodded to him and relocated herself to Twilight’s bedside. She was about as gentle with waking up Twilight as she was waking up Talisman, in that she began poking her in the ribs rather insistently. “Wake up Miss Sparkle, I’m already late as is.” Talisman couldn’t help but chuckle as Twilight woke up with an irritated grumble before he was shooed out by Redheart. An hour later heralded the return of Redheart looking very satisfied. Not long after came a very disgruntled looking Twilight who marched over to a random bookshelf and took a random book out and began reading. Talisman looked over at her in mild amusement. “Something wrong?” Twilight huffed irritably. “She asked too many questions and too many of them were personal.” “Personal?” He asked, “How personal would she have to be if she ruffled the unruffleable Twilight Sparkle?” She looked at him with a glare that could wilt plants simply by it landing on one. “I was unaware that my reproductive organs could have a viable reaction to a sickness that affected my head.” ~*~ To Twilight Sparkle My sister has told me that these days friends are meant to occasionally visit to keep one another company. In knowing this, I, Princess Luna, Would like to ask of you and your friends to visit the castle that we may partake in friendly activities, or at least that you may teach me more on the topic of friendship as I am so woefully lacking in my knowledge. We would request you bring all of your friends, both old and new, so perhaps I may make new friends as well. I do profess tis not my only reason for doing this. My sister is missing you dearly and wishes to see you, not that she would ever actually admit to it. She is intensely proud. I do request that you make haste. In order to make sure you have a swift way to Canterlot, I am sending my personal chariot to collect you and your friends, magically enlarged for your convenience. Forgive me if it is too large, I am unaware of how many friends you have made since our last meeting. We look forward to seeing you and all of your friends. Princess Luna. ~*~ “So I guess we’re going to Canterlot girls. She said bring our friends, both old and new.” Twilight shot a smile to Demon. “So I suppose you’re coming along too.” Demon looked nervous at this thought and huddled closer to Fluttershy, who in turn nuzzled close to him. Rainbow and Applejack, although they sat together, sat at slight angles so as not to face each other. Rarity sat as she always did, with an air of implacable style and grace, and Pinkie was being Pinkie, bouncing slightly on the spot. “A..Are you sure I need to…?” Fluttershy looked at Demon and nuzzled him gently before whispering something into his ear. He blushed and nodded quietly. “Okay… I’ll go then.” Rarity smiled at the duo before looking to Twilight. “So? You going to invite Talisman to come as well? I think he’s been with you long enough to be considered your friend.” Twilight scowled. “Are you kidding? He’s annoying and weird!” Rarity smirked at her purple unicorn friend. “Of course he is. But if you don’t invite him to come along, I’m sure Demon or Fluttershy or anypony else here would be perfectly willing to invite him along anyway.” Twi shot an irritated look at Rarity, and then looked at each of her friends in turn. When she hit Rainbow, she got a response. “Hey, no way would I invite him. I don’t even know him that well!” Suddenly, Twilight smiled a self satisfied little grin. “And besides, who’s going to go into the forest and get Zecora then?” Fluttershy twitched an ear and spoke softly. “Oh, um… Zecora isn’t at her house right now. She left a note saying she’d be back in a week… Or something close to that…” Six pairs of eyes were suddenly looking rather expectantly at Twilight and she sighed. “Oh alright, fine! I’ll go ask Talisman if he wants to go with us, alright? Jeez.” ~*~ “So, yes. That’s why I’m asking.” Twilight sat before the amused looking Talisman as she finished explaining why she was asking him to accompany her to visit Luna. Tal smiled at her. “Well, I’m flattered. I didn’t know you cared. Especially that you think I’m your friend.” She flushed and frowned at him. “I’m only doing it because I was told to by everypony else!” She shot back at him defensively and he laughed. “Naturally. I was only teasing you.” She pouted irritably and looked away. “Celestia you’re annoying.” She grumbled at him irritably. Again he laughed and shook his head. “I beg for your forgiveness dear and humble student of Celestia.” He glared at him angrily and he merely smiled back at her. “See? This is why I didn’t want to invite you along! You’re annoying and weird and so full of yourself!” He actually looked a little hurt at her brash and angry outburst and instantly Twilight felt bad, but she refused to let herself show it, preferring to continue glaring at him. “Hey, that’s not true! I’m not full of myself at all! I’m terribly sorry to be such a burden to the great student of Celestia,” Talisman shot back angrily, “I’m sorry that I came across my abilities at a steep cost and that I’m proud of where I’ve gotten and what I’ve achieved! I’m sorry I can’t match you horn for horn when I’m conscious! I’m sorry that my skills don’t make any bloody sense to you and your perfectly ordered, logical mind!” He growled angrily as Twilight took a shocked step back, a guilty look welling up on her face. “And I’m sorry I ever came to this stupid, rustic bloody town and met it’s stubborn, all knowing, smug, inflexible, narrow minded, tunnel visioned librarian!” He stood up suddenly and stalked out of the library, eyes aflame with a burning rage and hurt indignation. Twilight lifted a hoof after him, but her words died on her lips as he slammed the door shut behind him. ~*~ For Twilight, the day passed in a dazed sort of slow motion. Talisman’s injured look haunted her and she wasn’t sure why. Certainly, she felt bad for what she’d said, and even worse that she hadn’t had the chance to apologise at the time, and even worse still that she hadn’t sought him out to apologise to him. But that didn’t seem like a reason she’d normally put down to being this downtrodden and depressed. It wasn’t normal. It worried Spike, who almost constantly asked after her, only irritating her and thus adding to her mood further until finally he decided it was best to simply leave her alone lest he exasperate her condition even more. To add to it all, she complained of a splitting headache since the argument and often paused when she was moving in order to stop herself falling over. Spike even considered writing to Luna asking, begging her to change the time of their get together due to health concerns, but the look Twilight gave him even as he thought of the idea discouraged him. He knew she couldn’t read his mind like Tal could, but he also knew she didn’t have to. She’d known him for long enough to know precisely what he was thinking and exactly how to quietly prevent him from doing so without even having to voice a single word. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting when she found herself trotting to the rendezvous point for herself and the gang. She wasn’t sure if any of the girls would be there and, if they were, if they’d want to go anymore at all. She was positive that Talisman wouldn’t show at all after their argument, and wasn’t sure if he’d told the others and made them upset at her. Not only that, but her headache was still raging along in her head and she occasionally found it difficult to breathe, like her ribcage was pressing down on her lungs and heart, constricting her. The chariot was already there when she arrived, and Luna had outdone herself. The magical enlargement of it could probably fit the entire town onto the roofless chariot. It was a wonder how the two dark clad ceremonial ‘nightguards’ managed to pull the massive thing. Whilst they looked strong, certainly, as all guards did, They didn’t seem strong enough to pull a chariot of that size on their own, and only two of them were attached to the thing. She saw her friends waiting for her and barely heard them speaking to her, but smiled anyway and greeted them. She wasn’t sure how she felt when she saw Talisman sitting silently behind Rarity, but she certainly didn’t feel any better. He glanced at her once that she could tell, but looked away afterwards, the remnants of his old anger flashing in his eyes. She avoided looking at him again, but even whilst they were flying to Canterlot, she couldn’t help but occasionally glance back at him. She didn’t catch him looking at her again, but he did seem apprehensive of something. The closer they got to Canterlot, the more apprehensive and the more wilted he seemed to look. Eventually Twilight decided she must be tired or stressed, curled up upon the floor of the great chariot and fell asleep, her rest fitful and full of an oppressive darkness. ~*~ “Twilight. Twilight wake up, we’re here. Come on, get up already.” Twilight felt an insistent nudge at her side and she grumbled sleepily, vaguely telling the voice to go away. A huff of laughter and another nudge made her open her eyes and glare at the offending pony, her eyes widening as she saw a faintly smiling Talisman standing above her. Instantly she frowned and turned away. “I’m still annoyed at you.” She said bluntly, trying to save face. To be honest, she wasn’t annoyed at him at all, but rather at herself, but it seemed to make more sense if she blamed it on him. She heard him grunt and another nudge and she sighed and stood up. “Well be annoyed then, but hurry about it will you? We’re going to be late.” For once the prospect of being late wasn’t something that bothered Twilight as her headache returned full force and she winced before it faded as fast as it had appeared. Talisman’s face showed concern. “You alright Twi?” “I’m fine!” She said forcefully and nearly fell over on her first step, only being saved by Talisman’s quick response, catching her against his side and pushing against her to steady her. “No, you’re not. For now at least, lean on me,” He said gently and continued soon after as Twi went to open her mouth, cutting her off, “No arguments Twilight, you need the support. For now at least. When you’re feeling stronger on your hooves you can walk on your own. So, with a grumbled retort and a not too happy look to her, Twilight leaned on Talisman as they walked through the city. As they walked, Talisman explained that the others had gone ahead to assure the princess that they were okay, and weren’t late. Twi had laughed at this and poked fun at his idea of ‘not late’, at which Tal smoothly pointed out it was her that made the pair late. She blushed and looked away. A little into the walk, Twi proclaimed she was strong enough to walk, and Tal let her take a few shaky steps before apparently being satisfied she could walk on her own. But as Twilight’s mood waxed into a full blown happiness at being in her old home and growing at every light hearted step, Talisman seemed to wane and grow smaller, especially once they stepped foot into the nobles sector. He trudged rather than walked and walked as though his head were too heavy for his body, ears splayed back and tail held low. He walked behind Twilight, as though afraid he’d be recognized and stayed well away from the few ponies still out in the crisp night air. It had only just begun, the night, and the moon had yet to be raised. Twilight’s concerned questions were met with barely a grunt until eventually he stopped in mid stride and turned to face a large building with columns that would make a temple envious. The house itself was sheeted in a thin layer of marble, as shown by a small hole in the sheet by the top of the left most column, and it was three stories tall. Despite this, the garden was neatly tended and sparse, without anything exceedingly expensive within it. The windows had heavy curtains drawn over them. Twilight had to backtrack a few meters to meet up beside him. He’d sat down by this point and he looked mournfully at the house. He glanced at Twilight and pointed with a shaking hoof. “Home.” ~*~ After Twilight finally made Tal move on, the pair hurried to the castle, being accepted into the castle after only a moment’s hesitation when the guard questioned who Talisman was. The unicorn pair made their way through the castle and, after collecting a few directions, they ended up in the lavishly decorated, dark room of the Princess of the night. The others were already there, however Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Luna herself were nowhere to be seen. Twilight raised an eyebrow at the other mares and they shrugged. “I’m not sure why Luna wanted to talk to them, but she asked them to come aside almost as soon as we arrived here. They’ve been in… whatever room that is since then,” said Rarity to Twilight’s oncoming question, knowing she’d ask, “I’m certain that they won’t be much longer.” At her words, an unseen door on the side of the room opened and Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped out, their faces strangely light. There was no sign of the forced happiness they’d been showing in the past few weeks, but they also seemed a bit dazed and bewildered. It was… an interesting combination. Luna looked slightly amused, and more than a little proud of herself. “Oh! Twilight Sparkle, thou has finally arrived. Who is thy friend?” Twilight looked to the downtrodden, depressed looking Talisman and felt a stab of concern. “This is Talisman. He’s a newer friend I met recently.” Luna smiled at Talisman, although it seemed a little forced, as though she was trying to hide something. Most likely, she was trying to hide her concern for Talisman in his depressed state. “Greetings Talisman. Tis good indeed to meet new friends. If thou wouldst excuse me, I hath duties I must take care of.” She smiled and gestured for the group to follow, and follow they did, with Twilight nudging Talisman along on the rear. He was getting worse as she looked at him and it troubled her. Had she known…. The group stood just inside the room as Luna stood on the balcony and began the fantastic process of raising the moon and stars that night. The lights shone supernaturally bright for a moment before fading down to their usual glow and Luna turned around to face her friends. Each one of them had helped her to get away from her waking nightmare, each one had helped to bring her back the love of her ponies, and her sister. Her eyes fell on Talisman as she opened her mouth to speak but stopped, the words dying on her lips. Talisman was visibly trembling, and he seemed to be struggling to keep his head up. Twilight was, for the first time since the girls knew her, at a loss for what to do. Somepony spoke, but Tal didn’t hear them clearly. It was sluggish and low, deep in pitch and he blacked out, falling to the floor with a sick ‘thud’, with a crowd of ponies around him and a worried looking Luna floating above them all. ~*~ It was dark. Darker than usual. Leylines of power were thick in Canterlot, always had been. A Primal place, a powerful place, a dangerous place. The strands of magical energy were visible in the dream realm. The realm that Talisman felt most at home. It's a strange place. A world of impossibilities made possible, and possibilities made endlessly impossible and strange angles that shouldn't rightfully exist. A place where logic and physics have no meaning and no power. Brute strength was determined by imagination alone, and the more imaginative the individual, the more raw power they had. Only in the realm of dreams. Talisman looked at his prone body, lying on the hospital bed. Beside him was Twilight Sparkle, asleep from waiting. Her upper torso was draped over him. He'd witnessed the whole thing. Dragged to the infirmary, had tests done. It didn't matter. He was just asleep, unconscious to them. But it was all the same to him. With a sigh, he turned away, a new destination in mind. As he moved, the ground trembled and warped at his touch, becoming smooth, understandable, as only he could make it. He moved through the dream, and it changed for him. A wall in his way folded itself back, brick by brick, until it was but a memory. Guards simply became incorporeal, or perhaps that was Talisman? It is difficult to say. A light guides his way. His mane is brushed out of his eyes and doesn't fall. The lights of the stars in the sky are bright, bright enough to light up the night in silvery glows with ease as Talisman left the castle. Or, perhaps he did not. Who is to say the castle did not leave him? At the same time, he was still in the castle after all so.... His hooves barely had to move and he was moving quickly, like a heat wave in summer, Canterlot seemed to simply sweep away as he moved. He wandered for what could have been hours, trying to figure out what to do. Where to go? Should he go there? Was there any point? Why should he bother? They abandoned me... Why should I go to see them? The instant the thought touched his head, the dreamscape swirled and before him was his family house. Marble sheathed and storied, almost imposing, daring him to enter, to see what it contained. I haven't seen them in almost seven years... but is there any point? With a moment's hesitation, Talisman stepped forward and into the house, looking around at the distantly familiar objects. The mirror, the old couch, the big woolen rug. Yes, this was his parent's house alright. And there, sitting on the dresser, a picture of his family. An older stallion and mare, smiling but with a melancholy look to their eyes. A filly a few years younger than himself. And in the arms of the older mare, a young foal, barely old enough to walk. But Talisman was not in the picture. With a regretful sigh, he went to turn away when something caught his eye. A scrap of a photo that looked like it'd been burnt a long time past, laying flat on the dresser next to the picture frame holding the family portrait. An image of a much younger Talisman. It was damaged, but it was still him. Dream Catcher cutie mark, mane over his eyes. And on the bottom, written in neat, cursive black ink... My son. He couldn't tell if it was his father or his mother who wrote that, but it brought tears to his eyes nonetheless. With a lingering 'touch' to the photo, he did turn away and worked his way up the steps, seeing if his father's room was in the same place it'd always been. Poking his incorporeal head through the door confirmed it. There was his father and his mother, asleep in bed. With only a slight hesitation, Tal reached forth, his arm elongating, and tapped his father's head. And was drawn, just like that, into the dream. There was nothing there. Just darkness. Tal could feel the consciousness within the dark, but it wasn't awake. It was asleep, not functioning at a level high enough to cause dreams. With a soft and slightly nervous sigh, he took in a deep breath and blew. The wind from his mouth cascaded through the space, clearing away the darkness. And there, in the middle of it all, rose a stallion. With a coat a shade darker than Tal's and a mane and tail of gold, he looked tired and old. He looked at Talisman, frowning. Who are you? Tal felt his heart beat painfully in his chest and fought back tears. Father... You don't recognise your own son? The old stallion looked closely at Talisman, eyes narrowing as he looked at him. A pair of spectacles slowly swam into view on his nose. It was a look Tal wasn't used to. Then his eyes widened. Tal? There were no words in the dreamscape. Their thoughts were made reality, thoughts based upon the other pony were heard made real sound. Talisman smiled almost sadly. Yes father. It's me. Been a long time huh?